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I quit about 15 years ago when I first moved to Florida and stayed quit for 4 years - I picked it back up again when I started a new job (my colleagues smoked, so I eventually went back to it).

I hate the smell... I hate the ashes.... I hate the health impact... I hate the cost (spending about $2,800 a year on cigarettes)

So, I have set December 21st as the date (day after I start my holiday break from work).... I figure that even if I reduce by 1/2 the amount I smoke starting on the 21st, I can be completely quit by January 1st.

Anyone want to join me and use this thread to provide each other with support through the process?

I think it would be a way to share our ups/downs and success in quitting as well as to provide encouragement if anyone gets a craving to return to smoking or slips up.

I'm going to do it cold turkey like I have done in the past . I had quit for 9 months last time and started back up in July after seeing pics on FB of myself in New Orleans looking like a fat ass Godzilla who ate Tokyo . I didn't eat more than usual but because of my age I blimped out and got fat when I quit last time . I would rather be a fat guy with $2800 in my pocket anyway so WTF .

I'm going to do it cold turkey like I have done in the past . I had quit for 9 months last time and started back up in July after seeing pics on FB of myself in New Orleans looking like a fat ass Godzilla who ate Tokyo . I didn't eat more than usual but because of my age I blimped out and got fat when I quit last time . I would rather be a fat guy with $2800 in my pocket anyway so WTF .

Thanks Jeff - I know we can do this - And BTW, Godzilla is cute in a monster-ish kind of way - and I guarantee you he would put any of the large penis' on the state or country maps to shame I think I'm going to go for the extra large godzilla look - if nothing else, I can get work in a B-movie (Godzilla takes on...)

I'll join you guys, however I already have a head start. Yesterday, I got an electronic cigarette, which is basically a tube, housing an adjustable battery, oil cartridge and small electronic atomizer to disperse the oil. The oil comes in many flavors and it's essentially nicotine suspended in an oil. The unit only produces vapor and the battery has increments of power, so you can adjust how strong the taste and nicotine delivery it produces.

A large bottle of oil equates to 200 cigarettes and costs $17 vs $60+ for a carton of smokes. The nice thing about the adjustable battery is you can dial it up, when you first start and then keep dialing it down, until, hopefully, you throw the thing away.

I'll join you guys, however I already have a head start. Yesterday, I got an electronic cigarette, which is basically a tube, housing an adjustable battery, oil cartridge and small electronic atomizer to disperse the oil. The oil comes in many flavors and it's essentially nicotine suspended in an oil. The unit only produces vapor and the battery has increments of power, so you can adjust how strong the taste and nicotine delivery it produces.

A large bottle of oil equates to 200 cigarettes and costs $17 vs $60+ for a carton of smokes. The nice thing about the adjustable battery is you can dial it up, when you first start and then keep dialing it down, until, hopefully, you throw the thing away.

Joe

They sell those at the store near my house - I think it is called "Blu"The worse thing is they are making rules that you can't even smoke those in some of the places down here.... My boss had been using one, but she hasn't pulled it out in a while...

I may pick up one of those this Friday and give it a try until the 20th...

I am also going to take a large cup and label it my "quit smoking cup" - each day I will put $6.25 in it (the cost of a pack of cigarettes)... That is what I did last time I quit... It was quite a motivator to see that in 30 days I had saved a good amount of money (that was when cigs were $3 something a pack) - So, I will have about $200 saved in 30 days going (which will be great to see piling up in the cup)....

I plan on using my savings to buy more antiques for my house or to sell . I don't know if its the economy or what but I have been making out like a bandit at the resale thing lately and the extra bucks will come in handy .

I plan on using my savings to buy more antiques for my house or to sell . I don't know if its the economy or what but I have been making out like a bandit at the resale thing lately and the extra bucks will come in handy .

Do you like Courier and Ives dishes?My brother has a bunch at his home - the Christmas/Winter scene ones - saucers, tea cups, bowls, plates....

Do you like Courier and Ives dishes?My brother has a bunch at his home - the Christmas/Winter scene ones - saucers, tea cups, bowls, plates....

I have mostly been buying chandlers and other vintage lighting and furniture and art glass . I have not ventured in to china and things like that because I know little about it .

I like buying antique furniture because what I buy is an investment and also fits the scale of my smallish house . I bought a globe barrister bookcase the other day that I got a great deal on , plus I love it .

I plan on quitting smoking and not going on vacation this year so I can finish doing what I want here at home , its been 5 years since I bought my home and I keep blowing my budget on fun things so stopping smoking is a good way to tackle my home wish list .

As a previous smoker I can say it is well worth it to quit! After 2-3 packs A DAY I quit smoking 2 years ago.

I feel amazing physically and I spend the extra $300 month I now have down at the bus station on twink hustlers

YOU CAN DO IT!

2-3 packs per day? You had to be smoking one after the other. That's awesome you were able to quit. I was up to a pack a day. Actually, today is the 5 year anniversary that I quit. It was 5 years ago today I ended up in the hospital. After I got out, I think I tried smoking twice, but I got so out of breath. I also had this psychological fear that smoking would bring pneumonia back on.

For the first year, I had daily cravings. I wanted to start smoking again so bad. After that, I lost the daily cravings. I will still get a craving, when I smell someone smoking on a nice, sunny day. I would love to be able to smoke one now and then, but I know that's not possible. I was often a closeted smoker and would tell some I didn't smoke. But, now I know they knew that was a lie. I can smell smoke on friends and family, even if it has been hours since they last smoked. The first time I had sex with my partner, he said he could tell I smoked. He could taste it on my penis. I'm not sure if it comes out the skin or whether it was due to my smoky fingers transferring the smell.

2-3 packs per day? You had to be smoking one after the other. That's awesome you were able to quit. I was up to a pack a day. Actually, today is the 5 year anniversary that I quit. It was 5 years ago today I ended up in the hospital. After I got out, I think I tried smoking twice, but I got so out of breath. I also had this psychological fear that smoking would bring pneumonia back on.

For the first year, I had daily cravings. I wanted to start smoking again so bad. After that, I lost the daily cravings. I will still get a craving, when I smell someone smoking on a nice, sunny day. I would love to be able to smoke one now and then, but I know that's not possible. I was often a closeted smoker and would tell some I didn't smoke. But, now I know they knew that was a lie. I can smell smoke on friends and family, even if it has been hours since they last smoked. The first time I had sex with my partner, he said he could tell I smoked. He could taste it on my penis. I'm not sure if it comes out the skin or whether it was due to my smoky fingers transferring the smell.

So, I wish all you guys trying to quit success.

Ted, you never hold back do you? Always laying it out there

Good luck smokers!!

PS. I quite smoking years back and used Chantix, total mind fuck (puts Atripla to shame)but it worked!

Good luck to all of you that decide to quit smoking. Honestly, it is a filthy, disgusting habit, and once you successfully quit, you WILL realize how disgusting/filthy it was.

Years ago when I quit, I also gave up coffee at the same time. ( nothing goes better with a cup of coffee than a cig). In the workplace, I quit taking breaks with the smoking employees, until I felt comfortable, that being around them, wasn't going to make me light one up. They understood ! I walked around the property, when I took breaks.

I was about a pack to a pack and a half a day smoker. And cigs were much cheaper way back then.

Take all those ashtrays in the house and wash them in soap and water, and then bag them, and put them someplace, way out of the way.

 24 hours Anxieties have peaked in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.

 48 hours Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability will have peaked.

 72 hours Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day have peaked for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and your lung's functional abilities are starting to increase.

 5 - 8 days The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.

 10 days 10 days - The "average" ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.

 10 days to 2 weeks Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in your gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.

 2 to 4 weeks Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.

 21 days Brain acetylcholine receptor counts that were up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.

 3 weeks to 3 months Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared. If not, get seen by a doctor, and sooner if at all concerned, as a chronic cough can be a sign of lung cancer.

 1 year Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.

 5 years Your risk of a subarachnoid haemorrhage has declined to 59% of your risk while still smoking (2012 study). If a female ex-smoker, your risk of developing diabetes is now that of a non-smoker (2001 study).

 5 to 15 years Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.

 10 years Your risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer is between 30% and 50% of that for a continuing smoker (2005 study). Risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreas have declined. Risk of developing diabetes for both men and women is now similar to that of a never-smoker (2001 study).

 13 years The average smoker who is able to live to age 75 has 5.8 fewer teeth than a non-smoker (1998 study). But by year 13 after quitting, your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).

 15 years Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked. Your risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study - but note 2nd pancreatic study making identical finding at 20 years).

 20 years Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study). Risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study).

Those stats are interesting to read, Ray. My best friend quit smoking about 4 or 5 years ago. She has PAD, and one day when she lit up, one of her feet turned black.

I would like to quit but hate to when under stress. Of course, there is the e-cig, I've used this before and was able to quit for 9 months. I also have patches, and was able to quit on these for up to a year.

I can set a quit date, but not until the first of the year. Like Jan 1. So, everyone else is quitting before the new year?

Logged

I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Oh yeah -- I'm sure the mods will show a little leniency for the inevitable bitchiness that will spill out at times.

HA! Don't bet on it when the mods are also trying to quit.

I started smoking roll-your-own nearly a year ago and it's helped me cut down quite a bit. I've gone from spending just over £60 ($100ish) a week to £18 ($30ish) (when including papers and filter-tips; 50g of tobacco costs me £16 - $26ish). It's currently taking me about eight or nine days to get through 50g and I'm seriously considering going cold turkey when I can make 50g last a whole two weeks.

Knowing some of you are currently trying might give me some incentive. Then again, maybe not.

I tried Champix a few years ago and it made me nutz (moreso than usual). One of the reasons I chose to avoid Sustiva at all costs. Well, nearly all costs. I'd use it if there were absolutely no alternative.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I smoked 17 years--stopped at 2+ packs/day. Cold turkey. Gained weight then lost the weight. Now in my 27th year nicotine-free. The savings, decent breath, improved breathing and no daily hacking cough were all worth it. My head can still turn with the right whiff of a newly lit cig, but mostly they stink. Thankfully. I can smell smoke in cars ahead of me in traffic and in crowded bars (from a car). So I think my brain is just sensitized to the smell or I'm morphing into a sniffer dog.

Em brings up a very important point -- weight gain is very likely to happen. Try not to worry about while you are in the process of breaking your addiction. I've seen too many people resume smoking because they gained 10-20 lbs. Let the weight come -- you can lose it after you are comfortably smoke-free.when I quit, I put on a little over 50lbs -- my doctor, at the time, told me that I'd need to gain over 100 lbs to have the same deleterious effects to my health that smoking a pack+/day had.

Of course, 6 months later he started nagging me about my weight...

Don't let yourself lose sight of the goal - your mind is going to do all it can to get you to pick those cigs back up.

I'm all in for Jan. 1rst! All 3 of my daughters have been getting on my case about smoking, especially the 6 year old. She told the lady at the gas station the other day, "My daddy does drugs and you're selling them to him!".

I am pleased to report that I was able to go out drinking, with just my e-cig and I was fine. I find that I "hit" the e-cig more than a regular cigarette, but overall I am still "smoking" a lot less than with the real ones. I'm finding the e-cig is also helping me to break the habit of mindless smoking, while doing other things, because you have to pay attention to using the e-cig, rather than just lighting another one.

I am pleased to report that I was able to go out drinking, with just my e-cig and I was fine. I find that I "hit" the e-cig more than a regular cigarette, but overall I am still "smoking" a lot less than with the real ones. I'm finding the e-cig is also helping me to break the habit of mindless smoking, while doing other things, because you have to pay attention to using the e-cig, rather than just lighting another one.

Joe

I'm still on for quitting by Jan. 1st

Glad to hear it is going so well Joe

That is what I worry about - going out drinking - because I likes my cigs when I have my beers.

The most rewarding part of quitting smoking for me was the breathing..my breathing cleared up, the sinus infections are gone, I dont hack up that phlegm, and I can now walk and jog 3 times as far as I previously could. This is what you can look forward too as well

That is what I worry about - going out drinking - because I likes my cigs when I have my beers.

Hmmmmm....?? What to do???

Perhaps pass on the beers for the first week or two (or three). The mind will do all it can to get you back to smoking, so make it tougher in the beginning by avoiding triggers. You can't do it forever, but the tough part of quitting is not the physical, it's the mental and the "habit" part.

The most rewarding part of quitting smoking for me was the breathing..my breathing cleared up, the sinus infections are gone, I dont hack up that phlegm, and I can now walk and jog 3 times as far as I previously could. This is what you can look forward too as well

The phlegm disappearing was the most immediate. I didn't have a smoker's cough, but I would get that phlegm cough that would come out in the most inopportune time. Smell was the big thing, too. Smell was huge. I could smell different spices in food that I couldn't before. When our dog was in her last months, she was leaking in her sleep. I didn't realize how bad the carpet smelled, until I quit smoking. Although, that was probably a good thing. But, I didn't realize visitors were smelling that so intensely.

Hijust wanted to throw my hat into the quit ring....in fact I stopped smoking 12 days ago and now I'm over the initial cravings things are going well.

Other good news unrelated...over the last 4 weeks my cognition has improved and although I sometimes have problems or am a bit slow I am no longer in state of constant distress. I am more settled and can concentrate and understand things better.

That's about it.Merry ChristmasGROWLER

Logged

If loving someone is putting them in a straitjacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I have loved a few people.

Hijust wanted to throw my hat into the quit ring....in fact I stopped smoking 12 days ago and now I'm over the initial cravings things are going well.

Other good news unrelated...over the last 4 weeks my cognition has improved and although I sometimes have problems or am a bit slow I am no longer in state of constant distress. I am more settled and can concentrate and understand things better.

Hijust wanted to throw my hat into the quit ring....in fact I stopped smoking 12 days ago and now I'm over the initial cravings things are going well.

Other good news unrelated...over the last 4 weeks my cognition has improved and although I sometimes have problems or am a bit slow I am no longer in state of constant distress. I am more settled and can concentrate and understand things better.

Someone threw a cig out the car window tonight and I was like, "What's that?" Ok, I knew what it was, but it had been a very long time since I saw that-- even here in KY. You don't see as many smoking. Or, those who do smoke don't smoke in their cars or homes. I think car leasing also has an effect on that. Some leases can charge you, if your car smells or has burns, when you turn it back in.

Many are now smoking the flavored cigars-- blunts or whatever the kids are calling them. Many men also prefer to dip here and many other Midwest and southern states. I think I see more men buying dip (smokeless tobacco for those who don't know that term) than I see buying cigs. And, definitely more buying the flavored cigars.

For those of you in other countries-- Is dip (smokeless tobacco) something you never see and something mostly here in the states? I know Snus was invented and is popular in Switzerland??

I have been smoking for 17 years now and switched to the vapor cigarettes in October after losing my grandmother to cancer. It has been a great switch. There are times where I do miss the "real" thing, but know it has to be a healthier option without inhaling all of the added chemicals in cigarettes. I have noticed since I've made the switch I actually am using the vapor cigarettes less too.

Hijust wanted to throw my hat into the quit ring....in fact I stopped smoking 12 days ago and now I'm over the initial cravings things are going well.

Other good news unrelated...over the last 4 weeks my cognition has improved and although I sometimes have problems or am a bit slow I am no longer in state of constant distress. I am more settled and can concentrate and understand things better.

That's about it.Merry ChristmasGROWLER

Welcome back Growler! Merry Christmas to you and Sebastian the Bear Glad you are doing well, We miss you.

Someone threw a cig out the car window tonight and I was like, "What's that?" Ok, I knew what it was, but it had been a very long time since I saw that-- even here in KY. You don't see as many smoking. Or, those who do smoke don't smoke in their cars or homes. I think car leasing also has an effect on that. Some leases can charge you, if your car smells or has burns, when you turn it back in.

Many are now smoking the flavored cigars-- blunts or whatever the kids are calling them. Many men also prefer to dip here and many other Midwest and southern states. I think I see more men buying dip (smokeless tobacco for those who don't know that term) than I see buying cigs. And, definitely more buying the flavored cigars.

For those of you in other countries-- Is dip (smokeless tobacco) something you never see and something mostly here in the states? I know Snus was invented and is popular in Switzerland??

It takes about 72 hours from your last cigarette for the all the nicotine to leave your body. This is when the worst of the withdrawal symptoms are felt. During this time drinking acidic fruit juice (cranberry juice particularly) can spend up the elimination of nicotine from the body speeding up the withdrawal process. I am at day 14 without cigarettes and feel great.

Logged

If loving someone is putting them in a straitjacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I have loved a few people.

For those of you in other countries-- Is dip (smokeless tobacco) something you never see and something mostly here in the states? I know Snus was invented and is popular in Switzerland??

All forms of smokeless tobacco (dip, snus, snuff etc) are illegal to sell in Australia. Ecigarettes are legal but nicotine juice cannot be legally purchased here.....but it is legal to import nicotine juice for personal use.

Logged

If loving someone is putting them in a straitjacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I have loved a few people.

My one year quit anniversary was November 2nd of this year. Smoked for 10 + years. Long enough I can't remember when I began. Hopefully someday I'll be quit long enough I won't remember when it ended.

There wasn't any grand epiphany or health event that compelled me to stop. More than any I grew tired of the negative self talk when I lit up another cigarette.

Of all the stop smoking aids helpers I tried (patches, wellbutrin and hypnosis) the best was a book by Allen Carr.Reading his book took away all the excuses I'd used for smoking. (Stress, relaxation, concentration, I look so suave with a ciggy, etc etc etc) Basically the book kicked the crutches out from under my justifications and allowed me to see my habit in a new light. YMMV

Hi all.Just checking to see if anyone had given up the smokes for the new year. I'm on day 29 of my quit and can honestly say its been worth it. I have also quit caffeine over the last week, I was overdosing on coffee as compensation for the lack of nicotine. I'm going to restart caffeine again again tomorrow but limit myself to 2 cups of coffee a day.CheersGrowler

Logged

If loving someone is putting them in a straitjacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I have loved a few people.

Hi all.Just checking to see if anyone had given up the smokes for the new year. I'm on day 29 of my quit and can honestly say its been worth it. I have also quit caffeine over the last week, I was overdosing on coffee as compensation for the lack of nicotine. I'm going to restart caffeine again again tomorrow but limit myself to 2 cups of coffee a day.CheersGrowler

I'm down from a pack (20 cigarettes) a day to 14 a day.... plan is to be down to 6 a day by end of next week and then give them up completely.....

I must admit I have not followed through as of yet but I must . I have a cough that wont quit and it wakes me at night sometime and I must clear my lungs to breath .

Its a testament to the addictive power of nicotine . I sometimes find it painful to smoke and as I coughed up something disgusting the other day I commented to myself, good, now I can smoke and it wont hurt .

I know I can do this because I have before for long periods of time . I have been through 30 years of Aids and drug addiction and I did not get to where I am now by denying my condition or not taking responsibility for it, so I am going to have to draw on those skills and do the right thing by myself before I get to the point of no return and become a guy tethered to an oxygen tank, that is where I'm heading fast .

I know it's tough, but you have a great big cheering section for you. If you quit and stay quit until the 2015 AMG -- I'll even do a nice Cheering routine for you..... (I'm putting it out that far so as not to scare you back to smoking afterwards.....).

I know it's tough, but you have a great big cheering section for you. If you quit and stay quit until the 2015 AMG -- I'll even do a nice Cheering routine for you..... (I'm putting it out that far so as not to scare you back to smoking afterwards.....).

I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS.......

Hugs,Mike

Will you wear a tight little cheerleader outfit ? I want Pom Pom's too . Of course it will have to be filmed and uploaded to Utube to inspire others .

Hi all.Just checking to see if anyone had given up the smokes for the new year. I'm on day 29 of my quit and can honestly say its been worth it. I have also quit caffeine over the last week, I was overdosing on coffee as compensation for the lack of nicotine. I'm going to restart caffeine again again tomorrow but limit myself to 2 cups of coffee a day.CheersGrowler

I'm down to 1/2 pack. Trying to think of reasons other than the obvious (breathing, family). One of my big motivators, and I hate to say it, is the money. At $6/pack, even with smoking 1/2 a pack a day, that's still almost $24/week. And I hate to tell my best friend I can't go out to eat because I have no money (due to smoking).

I have some patches in my bathroom, they helped me before. And I started riding my recumbent bike this morning, hopefully that will help also. I want to, just need that extra push.

Logged

I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow